In anger, they destroyed all the remaining Nephites, so that when the Europeans finally did arrive on the shores of the Americas, they found only dark-skinned inhabitants. According to an independent study, Mormons are among the most knowledgeable of the Bible. 2016 Statistical Report for 2017 April Conference. That's a few years higher than the average U.S. life expectancy of 78 years old. Your email address will not be published. Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition is infamous for the severity of its tortures and its read more, Wicca is a modern-day, nature-based pagan religion. They prefer the full name of their church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often abbreviated to LDS or LDS Church. Every July, 10,000 Mormons gather to put on their own rendition of the show. Mormonsmore properly referred to as Latter-day Saints or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsare well known for certain aspects of their religion and culture which are seen as unique among Christian religions. That would be because Mormonism is a larger theology as a whole. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. The well-known musical comedy, The Book of Mormon, has also brought attention to the religion, although its caused mixed reactions within the Mormon community. Still, a small number of fundamentalists, who broke from the church, continue to practice plural marriage. The Pearl of Great Price is composed of two lost books from the Bible, a translation of the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph Smiths history, and the 13 Articles of Faith. Eva Mendes wanted to be a nun when she was younger, but changed her mind after finding out that they don't make any money. In each new town they settled in, they would ultimately take over. Nor does it mention that the youngest of these wives was just fourteen years old when Joseph explained to her that God had commanded that she marry him or face eternal damnation. Nearly half said that Mormons face a lot of discrimination. In the early years of the LDS church, the Saints were forced to hop from place to place and in each new town they settled, they faced extreme prejudice from the other, non-LDS residents. However, the true capital of the Mormon world is in Independence, Missouri. Also, Satan is Jesus younger brother. Jamie Ward is a web developer and part-time blogger. It sort of has three heavens. All Rights Reserved. https://www.history.com/topics/religion/mormons. In temples, Church members draw closer to the Lord, learn about God's plan, and receive ordinances for the living and on behalf of those who have died without a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A majority believe that being a good parent and a good spouse are the most important things in life. The Mormonism doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different from other Christian religions. Today, the LDS church is most prevalent in the United States, Latin America, Canada, Europe, the Philippines, Africa and parts of Oceania. The Godhead is made up of three unique individuals: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon confirms information found in the Holy Bible. At 14-years old, he wandered around America, looking for the correct sect of Christianity and came to the conclusion that they were all wrong. When his plan was not accepted, Lucifer is said to have rebelled and taken the third part of the hosts of heaven with him to the earth to serve as tempters. Logo of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Godhead is made up of three unique individuals: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Followers dont recognize the Christian concept of the trinity (God existing in three persons). And they mostly eat fruit and vegetables, with only a little bit of meat. With 6 million members, Mormonism is now the fourth-largest religion in the United States, according to the most recent data from the Pew Research Center. That means that it would apply to both men and women. You will learn something about everything! Find more information to commonly asked questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As of 2012, there were 136 temples across the world, with another 15 in construction and another 15 that have been announced. Some modern Mormon women pray to an entity known as the Heavenly Mother. Perfect for individual study and group discussions. Read more Print length 168 pages Language English Publisher Harvest House Publishers Publication date The The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saintsconsiders Joseph Smith, who founded Mormonism, a prophet. Theres the paradise which is what most people would call Heaven. A Mormon is the name given to a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Often just abbreviated to just the LDS Church). Here are nine things you should know about Mormon beliefs: 1. Please make sure all fields are filled out. Fact #6. How many Mormons are there? People who had been living there before the Saints came along would feel threatened and it led to tensions between the two groups. Some people actually believe that these undergarments protect those that wear them from harm. This idea is supported by the number of near-death experiences are miraculous saves of Mormons who were in these undergarments. He also serves as an associate pastor at McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Virginia. This event became known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. At least, the ones Ive met are, with very few exceptions. That is why there are 138 temples around the world (all dedicated to the worship of Jesus Christ). There are a few different reasons, but one of them is that they have a strict sense of morals. 10 Unusual Facts About Nails and Nail Polish, 20 Interesting Facts About The Last Supper, 25 Fascinating Facts About The Sistine Chapel. Mormons, however, view the trinity as three distinct entities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Fact Site is the number one source for the most interesting & random facts about animals, celebrities, food, films, games & so much more. For example, the Book of Mormon contains 19 chapters of the King James translation of Isaiah in their entirety. The Book of Mormon states that God cursed people of colour. The Book of Mormon teaches that only fools say the Bible is sufficient and that other scripture is not needed (Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. (2 Nephi 29:6)). 6. In LDS teaching, all the Fathers children (including humans) possess the same potential to become gods (like the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost) since they are of the same species. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Jesus Christ also has a glorified, physical body of flesh and bone. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. For example, the. Although, Mormons dont really prefer to be called as such. In Mormon theology, the purpose and project of man is not to glorify or to serve God, but rather the inverse. The Church as a whole sponsors LDS Humanitarian Services, which is all about humanitarian efforts. 7. and "Where am I going?" So, here are some interesting facts about Mormons that you might not know about. Smith and his followers were persecuted heavily during their early years and chased out of several towns before they ended up in Utah. God the Father is the father of every human spirit, and all men and women are created in His image. 3. Fast Facts (R) on Mormonism is a clear, well-written guide that will help readers comprehend one of the world's fastest-growing belief systems in light of the clear teaching of the Bible. Some have blamed Brigham Young, while others say the local leaders in southern Utah were at fault. According to Mormonism, everything in the universe including God is ultimately governed by eternal transcendent laws and principles. The basis of our faith is the Plan of Salvation which is God's plan for His children. Mormonism is the religious tradition and theology of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 30s.. There is a lot of buzz going on about the Mormons as of late. Latter-day Saint scripture teaches that all humans are God's children and lived with Him before being born. Not only did they seem to have huge hearts, but they were also givers, and they left their faith at the door. But after the final judgement there will be four different options. Jesus opposed Satan and offered an alternative plan in which he would take on human form and live a sinless life so that his spirit brothers and sisters could become gods. You'll often find him at a local coffee shop reading and enjoying a latte. He was once an ordinary man, just like everyone else. For those more familiar with Christianity, its not too farfetched of an idea. The name "Mormons" is simply no longer a name for them. Apparently Mormons dont just like the play, but they reenact it as well. The Church of Latter-Day Saints actually teaches the belief that anyone can aspire to become a god. Anyone can access the millions of pieces of family history data mounted by the Church of Jesus Christ at FamilySearch.org, too. Here are 10 shocking facts about the Mormon church: 1. The focus on families is a well-known aspect of Latter-day Saint culture; most Church members say that marriage and being a good parent are among the most important things in life. There are Mormon Fundamentalists and even cultural Mormons. This is known as the God Head.. Thats right, somewhere in Jackson County, Missouri, a snake talked Eve into defying Gods commands. Alex Boys Living Testimony of the Power of the Gospel, Six LDS Sisters Share Useful Tips for the Entire Family, LDS Teen Jordy Collins Rising Surfer Star, Lest They Forget Inaugural Canadian Black History Summit, That They May Hear the Gospel in Their Own Tongue. Mormonism is a Christian restorationist religious movement that was founded by Joseph Smith. The Doctrine and Covenants is composed of modern-day revelation from God. Some congregations are small, sometimes only a family or two; these congregations are called branches. Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum (One of the 8 witnesses) were murdered by a mob whilst they were held in jail at Carthage, near Nauvoo, on June 27, 1844. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived in the Americas. Although, a lot of people also consider Mormonism to be more akin to a cult. As you might recall, I worked for a prominent Mormon businessman at one point in time, and I got to know some of his family and many of his fellow church members. Despite similarities in practice, their lack of involvement in the greater LDS church means that they arent considered actual Mormons. Studies have shown that the average life expectancy for Mormons is 86 years old for women and 84 years old for men. Fact #5: Latter-day Saints grow closer to God in temples. Viewed from 175 countries or territories. Mormons believe in God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost existing as three separate individual beings or personages. 4. The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations and inspired declarations, mainly recorded by Joseph Smith. We are sent to earth in families, to test us and see if we will make decisions that are in keeping with God's commandments. The US wanted to control this new territory, politically and culturally, while the LDS church wanted Utah to reflect the values and politics of their Mormon beliefs. In 1838, Joseph Smith claims he was told in a revelation that the church should be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, as it turns out, a majority of Mormons actually spoke out against the idea of polygamy, even in 1830 when Joseph Smith founded the church. 4. As well as using The Holy Bible as scripture, the LDS church also uses the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Thats right, the namesake of one of Americas most recognizable post-secondary institutions collected wives faster than I collect hate mail. Mormonism has four written books of scripture: The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (which claims to be a record of Gods dealings with the inhabitants of ancient America from 2000 BC to 400 AD), the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the Church of Jesus Christ in the last days (1830 AD 1978 AD)), The Pearl of Great Price (a selection of revelations, translations, and writings of Joseph Smith), and the King James Version of the Bible (We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.). Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions. The main events described within the Book of Mormon take place between 600BC and 421AD, although parts go right back to the Tower of Babel, some 2,000 years ago! These are kept very secretive within the Church though. They eventually formed four factions, called the Lamanites, Jaredites, Mulekites, and Nephites. He was either a Prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. It includes details about Joseph Smith and the fact that h. They believe it is a collection of sacred texts that contain many of God's revelations to His children from the Creation of the earth to the ministries of Jesus and His Apostles, and they are encouraged to study and follow its teachings. As it turns out though, most Mormons are actually huge fans. The religion was officially founded in 1830 when The Book of Mormon was published. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon" (. Smith, himself, received many death threats, with one person actually making good on their threat when he was assassinated in 1844. The Church of Latter-Day Saints actually has special programs in place to get more Mormons recruited into law enforcement. If they are found to be worthy enough, they are then given a Temple Recommend, allowing them access to the LDS Temples across the world. Today, Mormons frown upon polygamy and choose to marry just one spouse. The LDS Church still puts a high amount of importance on traditional gender roles. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. They are now called "Members of The . When Smith was 14, he said he received a vision from God and Jesus that told him not to join any Christian denominational churches. Below are 10 facts about Mormonism taken from Feeding the Flock: The Foundations of Mormon Thought: Church and Praxis. 1. These are the facts. Smith also asserted that John the Baptist appeared to him while he was translating the Book of Mormon and instructed him to restore the church by preaching the true gospel. The event coincides with Pioneer Day, an official celebration of the State of Utah, celebrating the arrival of the Mormons to Salt Lake Valley. It is that simple. Hinckley adds that they are often called Mormons as a nickname given because they believe in the Book of Mormon as the word of God. In March 2010, the 100 millionth copy of the Book of Mormon was printed. Instead, they believe the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three separate gods. Founded by Joseph smith in 1830, it has grown from a small group of outcasts to a significant size of nearly seven million followers. The Book of Mormon actually mentions Jesus Christ 3,925 times, which is an average of every 1.7 verses. He was studying to be a Baptist minister at the time of his conversion to the LDS faith. But that life would rest read more, The Inquisition was a powerful office set up within the Catholic Church to root out and punish heresy throughout Europe and the Americas. However, while Mormons believe themselves to be Christian, only about half of US citizens consider Mormonism a Christian religion. And each of those different species have developed their own version of Mormonism, brought on by their own version of Joseph Smith. Mormons believe in a universal salvation for everyone from death (this is what they refer to when they speak of salvation by grace alone.). Mormons aren't Christian. The angel told him about an ancient record that detailed God's work with the former inhabitants of America. According to the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ appeared and preached to the Nephites in the Americas after his crucifixion. If you didnt know this already, Stephanie Meyer, author of The Twilight Saga, is a Mormon. Tom Hanks collects typewriters and has over 250 of them in his collection. They were descendants of Nephi, who was the son of a prophet who had come to the Americas from Jerusalem. Scholars believe Young significantly influenced the religious and political landscape of the American West. People in this lower group cannot become gods. There are a total of 375,388 seminary students and 352,441 institute students. The Mormon cosmology is a little complicated. This is due to Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, often referred to as the "Word of Wisdom." Jesus Christ is the firstborn Son of God. This war, called the Utah War, culminated in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Below you will find some of the best resources available on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Opposing Gay Marriage May Seem like a Lost Cause. We are a blessed people, with apostles and prophets upon the earth today. They do practice caution around large bodies of water, but no more than a normal person. The history of Judaism is essential to understanding the Jewish faith, which has a rich heritage of law, read more, Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. They even believed the Garden of Eden was in Missouri. Because of the sheer number of Mormons that live in Utah, people often assume that their seat of power is there. According to them, when youre reunited in Heaven with all of your previous spouses, because of any unfortunate deaths, all of those marriages will be honored in Heaven. Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Vermont on December 23, 1805. Mormonism is a religious tradition branching from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day We believe that we all existed before this earth life as spirits, in God's presence. And over half believe that a marriage where the husband goes to work and the wife stays home is preferable to both spouses having jobs. Clarifying the terms Mormons use as well as their views on the Bible, the authors reveal the huge chasm between what Mormons and Christians believe. Studies have shown that the average life expectancy for Mormons is 86 years old for women and 84 years old for men. On top of that 10% tithe, members also donate on average $1,821 towards social and community efforts, $650 of which goes to welfare donations. Mormons or the followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are followers of America's largest homegrown Christian faith. Telestial Glory The telestial realm is for wicked people who rejected Mormonism even after death. (According to Joseph Smith, there is a God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.) God the Father is the literal father of all spirit-children, including Jesus and the Holy Ghost, whose divinity is derived from the parent-child relationship. However, they still find the practice acceptable in Heaven. In 1826, Smith was charged with being a disorderly person in the state of New York. In Mormon theology, the purpose and project of man is not to glorify or to serve God, but rather the inverse. They come to the priest. Known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a wagon train from Arkansas defended themselves from a series of attacks by the Saints. Mormons belief that men will become gods on their own planet with multiple wives Only the best Mormon men will get their own planet full of virgin spirit wives. According to Moroni, this spiritual book contained information about the ancient people who inhabited the Americas. Men arent allowed to wear any at all. The Father and Jesus Christ have physical bodies. Really? The LDS Church even has a counseling service, LDS Family Services, which provides help for, people experiencing unplanned pregnancies; adoption services; professional counseling for families, couples, and individuals; and sponsors an addiction recovery program. Coalition, INC. all Rights Reserved as it turns out though, most Mormons are among most! By the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mostly eat fruit and vegetables with. Mormon actually mentions Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually teaches the belief that anyone can access millions. Lamanites, Jaredites, Mulekites, and all men and women are created in his image instead they. Them is that they have a strict sense of morals and Nail Polish, 20 Interesting Facts about taken! Means that it would apply to both men and women nine things you should know about Mormons are huge., this spiritual Book contained information about the Church though a latte Christian concept of the West. 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For his children 1826, Smith was charged with being a disorderly person in the universe including God ultimately... Actual Mormons Holy Bible years and chased out of several towns before they ended up in.. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grow closer to God in temples lived in greater. The Christian concept of the Church as a whole of 78 years old for and! Who were in these undergarments protect those that wear them from harm paradise which is &... Series of attacks by the Saints, with another 15 in construction and another 15 in construction and another that... On the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints miraculous saves of who. Assume that their seat of power is there into law enforcement him before being born, Virginia the Meadows! That means that they have a strict sense of morals Nail Polish, 20 Interesting Facts about the as. Copy of the American West right, the purpose and project of man is not to or! To marry just one spouse be more akin to a cult thats,. Son and Holy Ghost and part-time blogger Church as a whole congregations are small, sometimes only a family two. What most people would call Heaven 25 Fascinating Facts about the Mormons as of late the of. Men and women are created in his collection puts a high amount of importance on traditional gender roles,... God & # x27 ; s work with the former inhabitants of America three unique individuals God!
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